Anyway, this week was fast sunday as
you all know. And miracle story: Ali, our investigator with a baptismal date
for February 23rd (pray for him please!) got up and bore his testimony in
church.

Oh yeah. He is SWEET.

Anyway, this week I had the
opportunity to read through "Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W. Kimball.
It really is an amazing book that has increased my desire to repent and do more
for my Savior. I have learned so much more about the destructive nature of
sin, and the sorrow that comes from not being able to or willing to repent. It
has pushed me so much more to bring people the Light of the
gospel, "So they may know as to what source they should look for a
remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26). I'm sure plenty of people
will the rolling their eyes as they read this, saying, "Well you're a
missionary. Of COURSE you'll say that!" If you do or did think that, I
would like to clarify my reason for saying these sorts of things. I do not say
this BECAUSE I'm a missionary. I am a missionary BECAUSE I believe this.
Sometimes, we reverse the cause and effect for things in our lives; we mix up A
and B; We think results come before efforts; miracles before faith; and so on.
But that's wrong. I have never in my life been more certain of this. I am
saying these things because I am a missionary. I because a missionary because I
believe.

Isn't belief just a beautiful thing?
I thank Heavenly Father for my faith often, but not nearly often enough. I
invite you all to try thanking the Lord for the faith you do have. It's amazing
how He rewards us for our gratefulness!

You're all great! Shall we try to be
better together? :D (As together as we are across oceans haha)

Hello, one and all! Here we are again! This week was way too fast. I
finished up packing and some lessons in Urayasu, and then moved to Tokyo
1st ward! Boom. English proselyting. So. Weird.

Anyways!

miracles, miracles miracles! We set a
baptismal date with a black muslim man from France named Ali. He's
working to be baptized on the 23rd of February, so pray for him! We
haven't taught him the Word of Wisdom and he drinks, but I'm not
worried.

Here's why.

We set teh date
with him on Saturday, but he was way shaky about it. THen, he came to
church on Sunday. We had assigned him to read Moroni 7. He comes up and
says, quite sheepishly, "you know the chapter you told me to read
yesterday?"

My heart sank. I knew he didn't read it. I was disappointed. "yeah, Ali. We know."

He
looked up and said, "I read it. 3 times. And I was thinking for 15
hours about baptisms, and I know. I want to be baptized on that day."

.......

mind was blown.

Then,
sacrament meeting was about hope. Both speakers (One was brother Heaton
of the MTC) used Moroni 7. Gospel principles was about temples and
Family History work, Ali's favorite subject about the gospel, because
his younger sister, aunt, and grandparents have all passed away. Then,
we had a way sweet priesthood class about prayer and the necessity of
God, and how we CAN rely on the Atonement, no matter what. Afterwards,
we had a lesson on Law of Chastity, and Ali said, "It's just natural for
us to follow this law."

Yeah. Ali's natural man is very... How can I say this... subdued.

a.k.a.
HE IS JUST AWESOME!!!! That beign said, any and all prayers on his
behalf are appreciated. So much so that I invoke the blessings of heaven
upon anyone that prayers for him. God wants him to be baptized SOOOO
bad! I can see it in how prepared Ali is.

Please! Share this gospel with everyone you know.
Family that are members. Friends that are members. Family that aren't
members. Friends that aren't members. Strangers (and by that I mean your
best friends from the pre-mortal existence you just don't remember
yet!!!) that are and aren't emmbers. Share! Share and remember what
president Monson said. "He who freely gives keeps, while he who
selfishly keeps loses."

Good luck! I pray you can come to see the Hand of God as I have. It is everywhere.